DEE: Issue isn't going away

The public needs to be aware of what is going on at the Department of Health and Welfare.

Surely the state of Idaho has a way of conducting an investigation in this matter?

Dee was removed from the only family and home she has known for four and a half years. Andrea Butler has fostered Dee since she was an infant, and was in the process of adopting her. Health and Welfare took Dee from the Butler home on March 21, 2014. There was no notification ahead of time.

Little Dee was not allowed to take any of her special and personal possessions with her. The foster home where Dee was to be placed was a distant relative whom Dee had never had any contact with in the past. After further investigation by Whitney Ward from KREM 2 TV, it was confirmed the father had criminal records in Alaska. Two adult sons living in the home have numerous criminal records. One son has numerous criminal records in several states. One of the charges is for lewd conduct.

Aaron Cunningham and Forbing-Orr, case managers from Health and Welfare, and Tom Shanahan, were interviewed by Whitney Ward from KREM 2 TV news. In the interview, Tom Shanahan, with the Dept. of H & W, was asked: “Are there concerns about placing Dee in a family that has an extensive criminal background”? His response, “I’m very confident this is a good family placement for Dee, even with the criminal records of family members.”

Dee was removed from that home after KREM 2 TV interviewed H & W. She was placed in yet another foster home, which is being paid for by Idaho tax payers. If H & W really has the best interest for Dee why was she not returned to Andrea Butler, the only foster home she had been in as an infant?

State Sen. Bob Nonini was interviewed and stated he was going to investigate this case.

My question and concern: “Where is Dee”? I have been a licensed foster parent in the state of Washington. One of the foster children we did adopt.

We need a response from Senator Nonini and from the Health and Welfare Department.

Would all those who wrote to the Cd’A Press Readers Write section please contact Senator Nonini, and state your concerns again regarding “Where is Dee”? You may contact me at Jennices@hotmail.com so we can all pursue the safety of little girl Dee.

JENNICE SEVERSON

Coeur d’Alene